OCD is one of the most misunderstood - and most treatable - mental health conditions. The right care can quiet the noise.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is characterized by unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges (obsessions) that create intense anxiety - and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that are performed to temporarily reduce that anxiety. The compulsions may relieve distress in the short term, but they reinforce the cycle and make it stronger over time.
OCD is not just about cleanliness or organization. It can involve fears of harming others, religious or moral scrupulosity, intrusive sexual thoughts, symmetry and order, or the fear of something terrible happening if you don't perform a ritual. Many people with OCD are deeply distressed by the content of their thoughts precisely because it conflicts with who they are and what they value.
OCD is frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated, partly because people are ashamed of their thoughts and delay seeking help. You don't need to be ashamed here.
OCD treatment works best when it combines medication and evidence-based therapy. Medication - particularly SSRIs at therapeutic doses - can meaningfully reduce the intensity of obsessions and compulsions. I'll work with you carefully to find the right medication approach and monitor how you're responding.
I also incorporate psychoeducation throughout our work - because understanding how OCD works in the brain can itself reduce shame and anxiety. I may refer to or collaborate with a specialized OCD therapist when appropriate. Appointments are available in person at my Fairfax office or via telehealth across Virginia, in English and Tiếng Việt.
Anywhere in the state? See OCD treatment across Virginia.
No. OCD has many presentations. Some people have intrusive thoughts about harm, contamination, or morality. Others have obsessions about symmetry, religion, or relationships. What ties them together is the cycle: an unwanted thought causes anxiety, and a compulsion (mental or behavioral) temporarily relieves it -- but reinforces the cycle over time.
SSRIs are the first-line medications for OCD, often at higher doses than those used for depression. Fluvoxamine, sertraline, and fluoxetine all have strong evidence. When SSRIs are not sufficient on their own, augmentation with other agents may help.
Medication can significantly reduce OCD symptoms, but therapy -- specifically Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) -- is generally considered the most effective long-term treatment. For many people, a combination works best. Alice can provide psychiatric care and refer to a specialized OCD therapist as needed.
It often does. OCD tends to expand without treatment -- obsessions grow, compulsions take longer, and avoidance increases. Early treatment significantly improves outcomes and can prevent the condition from narrowing your world further.
The key distinction is distress and functional impact. If your thoughts or rituals feel intrusive, unwanted, and hard to control -- and they consume significant time or interfere with your daily life -- that is worth evaluating. Quirks that feel comfortable and do not bother you are usually not OCD.
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Alice Tran Psychiatric Care does not operate 24/7 and does not provide crisis services. Emails, voicemails, text or portal messages are typically responded to within 24 to 72 business hours.
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